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WATCH: Are adult coloring books the cure for stress?

Posted: Jul 20 2016 12:41PM MST

Video Posted: Jul 20 2016 01:33PM MST

LOS ANGELES, CA - Coloring books are no longer just a way to keep your kids occupied, adult coloring books are a thing now too. In fact coloring books for adults and children alike are more popular than ever with about 12 million sold in the United States in 2015. Compared to only 1 million sold in 2014. The rise is sales is due to the trend of more adults coloring in an effort to de-stress.

Now a small study has shown some insight into just how stress reduction occurs. Girija Kaimal, assistant professor of creative arts therapies at Drexel University and co-author of the study explained, “One of the things that many adults in the study commented on was that they have had no opportunities to engage in art-making as adults. This is an unfortunate and sad part of our current Western and modern life.”

The research discovered that about 75% of the participants’ cortisol levels lowered during the art task. Before the activity, levels of stress hormone among the group ranged from 32.4 to 5.05 nanograms per milliliter of blood. Afterward, blood levels dropped to a range from 25 to 5.01 nanograms per milliliter.

So there you have it. Ditch the stress ball, toss your cigarettes and pack your briefcase with your favorite coloring book and 64 pack of Crayola!